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The Bite-Sized Brush Guide

When I first entered the world of makeup brushes, it was like Alice when she fell down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. Nothing made sense. There were so many shapes and sizes and types of bristles and names of brands; I had no idea what I was doing or what I was looking for.

So in this post, I’m running down the basics of brushes. This post will cover the most commonly used types of brushes.

The Most Commonly Used Brush Types

These are the kinds of brushes you’ll probably want to include in your collection. They can have synthetic or natural bristles. Handles range from wooden/bamboo to plastic. Pick whatever feels best for you!

Face:

The Powder/Kabuki Brush-it’s a super fluffy, round brush that is perfect for applying anything, well, powdery. From bronzers to blushes, this brush has got your back. It (maybe most importantly) is used to set foundation with powder and blend everything out for a natural, effortless finish. Kabuki brushes are very dense (often more dense than a brush just labeled as a “powder brush”) and are wonderful for powder foundations. These can pick up a large amount of product, so be sure to tap off any excess powder before putting this brush to your face!

The Foundation Brush-this brush is flat and is used to apply foundation (but could also help apply a primer if you didn’t want to use your fingers, or generally anything foundation-textured that needs a face-wide application). The best brush will leave an undetectable, streak-free finish. It is also known as a “flat brush.”

The Angled/Fan Brush-this brush is angled with long bristles making it ideal for contouring, but can also be used for dimension-creating products like blush, highlighter, or bronzer. They may look over-sized for applying such things, but are great for picking up only a small amount of product. These brushes are surprisingly versatile, able to both apply product for a natural finish AND can be used to remove excess product on the face (too much bronzer or blush can simply be swept away)

The Blending Brush-these brushes come in every size imaginable to help you achieve a natural finish. They help smooth out any streaks, preventing “war-paint” contouring and effortlessly pulling together complex eye makeup looks.

Eyes:

Eyeshadow Brush-this brush will have some firmness to it, but have soft and short bristles. It is generally pretty fluffy (like a mini, firmer powder brush). It is used to apply powdery eyeshadow and blend it. It is very versatile and can be used to contour small areas like the sides of the nose and around the mouth, in addition to adding depth and dimension to the eyes.

Eyeliner Brush-if you are one to apply eyeliner with a brush over a pen, these work like a dream applying those gel and cream formulations. This brush has short, firm bristles that allow for a huge degree of control when creating cat eyes and other liner designs. These brushes also make great concealer brushes because they can cover a very small area, precisely. By using these instead of a larger brush or simply adding more/thicker foundation, by covering only the spots/areas you are trying to conceal, the overall look is much more natural.

These are the essential six that I use every day and cannot live without. A lot of people also like lip brushes, which are for exactly what they sound like. I don’t personally use them all that much, but if strong lips are a go-to look for you, one or two may be a wise investment.

Do you typically use brushes in your routine? Or has the beauty blender got you hooked? Let me know your favorites down below!